ULCEROUS LYMPHANGITIS OF THE HORSE 429 



ment of ulcers). Iodid of potash improved but did not cure 

 the condition. 



Prophylaxis. — Prevention consists in separating the sick 

 from the healthy, and a thorough disinfection of the 

 premises. 



ULCEROUS LYMPHANGITIS OF THE HORSE. 



Definition. — Ulcerous lymphangitis is a chronic, infectious 

 disease of horses characterized by a progressive, suppurative 

 inflammation of the subcutaneous lymph vessels along the 

 course of which there form ulcers. The regionary lymph 

 glands are not involved. 



Occurrence. — The disease was first described by Nocard, in 

 France. No outbreaks have been reported in the United 

 States. A similar disease has been observed in the Philippine 

 Islands. 



Etiology. — The disease is due to a bacillus resembling the 

 bacillus of caseous lymphadenitis of sheep. 



Natural Infection. — The bacillus evidently enters through 

 small wounds, particularly in the skin of the legs. The 

 disease is not communicable. 



Symptoms. — The first symptom noted is a diffuse swelling 

 of the hindlimbs. In the swollen limb develop circumscribed, 

 painful nodules which undergo puriform softening, forming 

 ulcers with thin borders from which is discharged at first a 

 creamy, later a thinner pus. The ulcers tend to heal readily, 

 especially if antiseptics have been applied to them. Usually 

 following the healing of "the first ulcers a new crop of nodules 

 and ulcers form between which the lymph vessels swell 

 to strands the thickness of a finger. Along the course of 

 these swollen lymph vessels new nodules and ulcers con- 

 tinually develop. In this manner the disorder may continue 

 for several months. In rare cases the forelimbs, body, neck 

 and even the head may be attacked, leading to the death of 

 the patient. In some instances the disease takes a chronic 

 course, the nodules and ulcers appearing in the winter, heal 

 during the summer months, to reoccur again the following 



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